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(No Model.)

F. W. DEXTER.

MARKING SPOONS, m.

'N0.'324',241. Patented Aug. 11, 1885.

u. PETERS. mmumo n rm. wminm an UN TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRED w. DEXTER, or PAWTUOKEE'RHODE ISLAND.

MARKING sPooNs, 80c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.'32 1-,24l, dated August 11, 1885.

.Applicationfiled March 10, 1884. No model.)

To rtZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRED W. DEXTER, of Pawtucket, Providence county, Rhode Island, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Marking Spoons, &c., of which the following isa specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part thereof.

This invention relates to that class of tableware which includes spoons, forks, pie-knives, butter-knives, and the like, which articles are usually struck-up from a suitable blank of sheet or plate metal, and when finished and sold have usually to be marked by cutting the purchasers initial into the surface of the metal by a graving-tool. This involves expense and delay, and is objectionable because of thewaste of precious metal, and more especially because, in case of plated goods, the cutting exposes the base metal beneath the silver or gold.

By my improvement the initial, coat-ofarms, or other device denoting ownership is struck-up by the forming-dies, or during the process of manufacture, and stands out in relief upon the article, leaving the surface-coating unbroken. Apeculiarl rich and artistic effect is thus produced, an goods purchased can be taken home at once without the usual delay for marking.

The drawings illustrate my invention as applied to a spoon and a fork handle, Figure 1 being a front view of a spoon; Fig. 2, an enlarged transverse view of the handle thereof.

Fig. 3 shows, partly in longitudinal section, a

fork to which my improvement is applied; and Fig. 4 is a front view of another pattern. The article is produced by the usual manipulations and processes, and at a suitable stage of the operation it is subjected to the action of male and female dies, between which the article or that part of the article to receive the initial is placed, and by a quick stroke or by heavy pressure the desired initial is produced. The male or back die may be made smooth,

leaving the back of the article smooth and without indentation.

The outlines of the letter should be sharply defined, with walls somewhat oblique, and an upper surface either flat or oval and either smooth or ornamental, as desired. A beautiful effect is produced by a frosted or satin finish on the raised letter, while the body of the article is highly polished, or by other contrasting finish. The surface of the letter, being in a higher plane than the surrounding surface, may readily be separately and differently treated, if desired, or the finish may be uniform. I

The raised initial may be struck-up by the same operation as that which shapes the ar ticle from the blank, the lettering-dies being properly formed for the purpose. In many cases, however, it will be more convenient to perform this operation subsequently, and although additional dies are required, consideringthe expense of engraving or marking in the old way, these improved articles can be produced cheaper than the old.

I am aware thatin the manufacture of spoons and other articles it is common to ornament the surface of the metal by means of engraved dies. I

My invention does not embrace such ornamentation, but is limited to the formation of raised initials as means for denoting ownership to the articles so marked.

Having thus described my improvement 'in' FRED W. DEXTER.

\Vitnesses:

WM. R. SAYLES, J. G. PERRY. 

